The six appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr
Stephen Ndhlovu yesterday charged with theft.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded out
of custody to January 5 for trial.

In a statement, Mr Christopher Marowa, the GMB manager at
Kelvin West Depot, said the maize could have been stolen at GMB Kelvin West as
they were short of around 30 bags after stock take.

“I can link the bags to have been stolen from the GMB depot
since a stock take revealed that there is a shortage of about 30 x 50kg bags of
maize which are similar to the 31 bags found,” he said.

Prosecuting Mr Mufaro Mageza told the court that on Sunday at
around 5PM at GMB Kelvin West Bulawayo, the accused people connived to steal 31
bags of 50kg maize.

“Acting with common purpose the accused loaded the maize in
a truck,” he said.

“They drove the truck to Emalongeni market searching for
buyers. Muzamba and Nayi were arrested at the market after an anonymous tip off
and they implicated the other four accused people when they were questioned at
Mzilikazi police station.”